Gramophone



July 21, 1931. G. 5. KING 1,815,777

GRAMOPHONE Filed April 8, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ.

TNVENTOR 6601309 B. BY Z ATTORNEYS July 21, 1931. G. B. KING 1,815,777

GRAHOPHONE I filed April 8. 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG1.Z.

l'NVENTOR ATITORNEYS- G. B. KING July 21, 1931.

GRAMOPHONE Filed April 8. 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet g Flemb.

ll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Elem.

2 I IIFIIFI I 7 I ll-rl l X. r

)NVENTOR ye Bjiiny &eol

July 21, 1931. G. 5. KING 1,815,777

\ GRAMOPHONE Filed A rii a, 1929 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 mm v I INVENTOR Geo e B.Kin

BY J7 ATTORNEYS.

G. B. KENG 4,815,777

GRAMOPHONE July 21, 1931.

Filed April 8. 1929 15 She ets-Sheet 8 V I NV'ENTOR Ciemye B. King BY v July 21, 1931. a. B. KING I GRAMOPHONE Filed Apri 8, 1929 FIGLZI.

15 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR & BWK

ATTORNEYS G. B. KING July'2l, 1931.

GRAMOPHONE Filed April 8, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTOR eor e BJfzL BY J W ATTORNEYS July 21, 1931,

GRAMOPHONE 15,777

Filed April 1929 ls heets l1 & O -Ki W RTT YS July 21, 1931. KlNG 1,815,777

GRAMOPHONE Filed April 8. 1929 15 Sheets-Sheet l2 iNVENTOR Gremye l) King ATTOR N EYS y 21, 1931- 7 G. 5. KING I 1,815,777

GRAMOPHONE Filed April 8, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet l5 FlGu. 6'7.

19e\alo use I86 has 19"] 316 INVENTOR Geo/ye B, Ein

RT TOR N EYS -:-*memo} T; OFFICE Patented July 21, 1931 GEORGE BASIL; Kine; on EDGBASTON, B RMINGHAM. ENGLAND Y 1 Gimxvrornonn 1 Application filed April 8, 1929, Serial No. 353,542, and .in Great Britain April 17; 1928.

I 'ifIhisinvention relates t o'gramophones and has for its objectto'provide means whereby theoperation of'emptying spent needles and inserting fresh, ones may be simplified."

g-One .of-the objects of the present invention isto provide apparatus'which will be'relatively simple to 1 construct and assemble and which willib'e certain in operation and which can be operated.satisfactorily 7 exercise of any particular skill.'v

' i A further object. of the present invention is toprovide apparatus for alltomatic needle changing which w ll not cause interference with theac'oustio properties ofthe 'reproi 51 ducer orwhich will cause a minimum of in- V L A further objectof t-he present invention terference therewith.

ism provide apparatus which will operate satisfactorily with. needles of w an y diameter within the usuahrange of diameters em ployedfor gramophone needles. 1 I

' Afu rther object 'ofthe present invention is to construct the apparatu-sin such manner that the points ofthe fresh needles will'not "be damaged prior totheir use.

The apparatus relates to thattypefof automatic needlecha nging gear I wherein the arm of the gramophone' which may be-a 'hollow tone arm or which may, in the case of an elec trical reproducer be other than hollow, is swungto one sideof the turntable for'dis charging the spent needle and receiving the fresh needle. Referringto the drawings r Figure 1 is a planfvi'e'w showing onearrangement in accordance withlthefpresent invention; f Y I v I 3 Figure 2 is a plan view showing the tone arm of the gramophone inthe loading position. 7

figure 3 is ure 2. 7 M

Figure 4is a section on line 4=4 of Figureil. 7

Figure 5' is a view partly in section'on line 5 -5 of Figure 2 WithllhfiglGPI'OdllCI and magazine in elevation. p c c Figure 6 is a view similar to'Figure5 but with the sound box shown in section and the magazine partly in section. 7

without the f Figure 12is a front View.

a section on Figure? is a plan View corresponding with F1gure'6 but with the magazine removed.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showinga' part of the operat ngjmechanism.

Figure 9 is 'a'section on line 9,9 of Figuresp. Figure 10,, is a side viewof the sound' box and associated'parts. Figure 11 is a plan View thereof.

Figure 13 is'a side view showing one form of needle magazine. Figure 14 is an end View thereof.

Figure 15 isa plan view of the magazine.

Figure 15. f y

Figure 17 is a sectionon line 17 17 of Figure 16. f

igure 18'is a section on line"18 18 of Figurej'l6. s

Figure 19. is a section on'line1919 of Figure 10 with the'n'eedle in position.

Figure 20 is a section on line 2020 of Figure 19.

" t Figure 21 is a view in plan showing a further construction, the magazine being omitted for the sake of clearness.

"Figure 22 is a plan View showing the construction illustrated in Figure 21 but with magazine in position.

the parts in theloading position and the Figure 16 is a section on line 'ltildof Figure 23 is a se'ction on line 23 23]of Figure 22. v c

Figure 24: is a section on line 24-21 of, Figure 23. i

Figure 25 is a section on line 25-25 ure 21 withthe magazine in position.

Of Fig- Figure 26 is a section on line 2626 of I Figure 24 showing the magazine supporting arm. I i Y Figure 27 is a plan view showinga further construction.

Figure 28 isp'a section online 28-28: of

Figure127. I, v 1 Figure 29 is a sectional view on line 29-29 f F gur 27- i In the construction illustrated in Figures .1 to 20. the invention is shown applied to a gramophone having, a sound box 1 and tone arm although it is to be understood that these'may be replaced by'an electricalreproducer which may be carried on a pivoted arm which, however, need not be hollow, or by a sound box and tone arm of the alternative construction described in my British specification No. 315,77 9. j

In the arrangement shown the turntable is shown at 3 and a record 4 isin position.

The part 2 is further The tone arm 2 has a second part 5 which is mounted tOESWlHjg ffibOll'tH/VQIlDlOfil axis in the well known-way. The parts 2 and 5,

however, are attached together pivotal lyoas.

shown clearly in Figures 3 and 4:. V

The part 5 is provided with abraeket having two .jaws 6 and the part 2 is provided with an end plate 7 of 'arcuate form adapted to swingin contact with the end of the part 5 and between the jaws 6. e

provided with a collar 8 which is pivoted at 9to the jaws 6.

The .part 2 may carry a pair of levers'10 each having a balancing weightll for the purpose of counter-balancing the additional weight of the sound box as compared with an ,It is usual in gramophone sound boxes for the axis of the needle holderto .be parallel to the plane of the diaphragm but it will be observedzthat we have adopted a construction which the axis of the needle holder is set at an obtuse angle in relation to the plane of the diaphragm. F e

' It will be observed that the needle. gripper which is shown more clearly in Figures 19 and 20 is provided with a hole 16 which extends completely therethrough so that the needles .can be fed in from the end opposite to that from which they project When worli- Further, it will be observed that the axis of the needle gripper and .the plane or the diaphragm of the sound boxif extended will both pass through the point about which the stylus baras a whole is pivoted.

The needle; gripper is designed to accome modate any diameter of needle whichis within the usual range of diameters'of gramophone needles and in :the .construction shown in Figures 19 and 20 the needle gripper comprises the member 15 ;having the continuous hole therethrough. The upper part of the holemay be of tapering form as shown and the hole maybe of triangular section as shown in Figure20 the needle contacting two sides ofthe-triangle. V I p j j I Extending transversely through the mem- :ber 15 is aihole in which is placed a sliding pin 17 which forms the movable member of enlarged head 18 under which operates a spring 19tending to move the pin to the right as seen in Figure 19.

The pin 17 is provided with a rectangular hole 20 through which the shank of the needle passes and if required one-end 21 of this hole may be of convex form as shown. I r

s shown in Figures 19 and 20 the needle holder isggrippi-ng a needle, the surface 20 pressing the needle laterallyinto the angle formed at the right hand side of the triangular hole through the member 15.

The pin 17"is slotted as shown 'at22 and a pin 23 in'the member 15 passes through this slot'in order to prevent the pin 17 from turning on itsown centre.

Further, the end of the pinv 17 carries a transverse pin 24 which limits bodily the movement o'fthe pin under the influence of the spring 19. v g

It wil'lbe observed that if the head 18 of the 'pin is pushed towards the member 15, the convex surface 21 will move away from the shank of the needle so that the needle will then be released. In order to prevent the needle from remaining in the angle of the triangular hole 16 '(see Figure 20) the opposite end 25 'ofthe opening 20 advances towards the right hand side of the needle and pushes it out of the angle so that it is positively released and will therefore drop under gravity, 1 r j The upper 'part'of the'member 15 is provided with lateral 'trunnions or bosses 26 the axis of which is parallel to the axis of the pin 17 and these trunnions are engaged by pins 27 with balls 28 interposed between the 'the needle gripper. This sliding pin has an r ends of the pins and the ends of the reeject the needle we may provide a pair of levers '30, 31 these levers being'pivoted at 3.2 and '33 respectively to a bracket 3 1 which is fixed to the sound box. V

' The two levers 30,31 are acted upon by a spring '35 which'tend's to move them apart and they areeach provided with a heel piece 36 between which is a, stop '37 i'ormed' by the head of a screw so thatthe outward movement of the two leversiunder the pressure ofthe spring 35 is limited. 4

The lever 30 is provided with a pair of cheeks 38 which are adapted to come intocon tact with one side Ofthe member 15 while the lever 31 is adapted to engage the head 18 of the pin 17.

be moved by the lever 3 mounted in; guides 43 fixed to a bracket 44 on the struciure of themachine atthe side oftheturntable. j I It will be observed that the carriage'42can slide in a-direction parallel to the aXisof the pin 17 so that the" two rollers, 4l are selfcentering inre'lation to the levers 30 and 31, r

I j the two levers consequently being operated simultaneously-it being impossible to exert pressure-on one side of the needle gripper without exerting an equal and, Opposite pressure uponthe opposite side.

Thuswhen release of the needle gripper occurs, themember is supported by the cheeks 38 as soon asthepin 17 commences to r In the construction illustratedphowever,

the carriage 42 isslidably mounted and it may be acted upon 'bya spring such as 45 and a stop plate 46 may be provided limiting its movementunder the action of the spring.

1 It should be observed that the lever 31 which operates thepin 17 is provided with the projections 40 so that the pin 17 will be moved inwardly a sufiicient distance to enable its surface to push the gramophone 14'. needle out ofthe angle oftheslot in the member 1-5but the projections will pass the roller'41 before the loading position is reached so-that the pin' l7 ispermitted to move back again sufliciently far to. enable the fresh needle to enter 'thefgri'pper without encountering obstruction from the'pin 17 I f V "P e ferring particularly to Figure "3 it' lwill roller engages in aslot49ein a" guide membe seen that the tone arm'part-2is pro-* vided with a downwardly projecting brackf et47 which bracket carries fa roller 48. This ber 50 fixed at the side of the machine this engagement ensuringthat when the tone arm 1 is swung to the side ofthe turntable itwill' be moved into the correct position relative to' the rollers 41'and a needle feeding mechanism. Further-the lp'rovisiono'f the guide 50 ensures that the tone arm will b'e'movedin'to a position to bring the axis o fthe needle gripper substantially vertical; this provision being desirable in'order toensure that the spent needle willfdrop-out of the gripper immediately the gripper is released. ,The

pivotal joint 9' in the tone arm enables the tone-arm part 2 to moveinto'therequired position.

5 The tone armpart5 provided with aprojecting arm 5l'fhaving'a'wedge sha'ped pro j ection 52 on its under side and when the tone .arm is swung into the loadingfposition'the projection 52 rides over a spring pressed operator moves the edgeof the projection52' nose 53 which enables the operator to feel whenthe movement is complete. If the overthehighestpoint ofthe nose 53 ,the

cient to j pleted. a

spring pressure on the nose 53may be sufiiensurethat the movement is comabling themagazine to .be definitely positionedonthe bracket structure. a

The magaz ne 1s shown clearly in Figures figures is one Whichenables the magazine to. be fed with needles conveniently by hand. Other forms of mechanism may be used if desired but it will be understood that it isnecessary to provide an ejecting plunger. for feeding the needles one by one from the magazine into the needle gripper of the gramophone. v f

, In the construction shown in Figures 13 to 18 themagazine comprisesa body 57 of channel section the open side of the channel being closed by a front plate 58 which has its centre portion 59 thickened so as to fit Withinthe channel of the body 57. The body portion 57 is provided with a guide block 60 which carries an ejecting plunger 61 forfeeding the needles out of the magazine intothe needle gripper.

The plunger 61 is carried by: a sliding operating pin 62 which may have a head 63v slotted at 64. i f j The operating member 62 is provided with a guide pin 65 sliding in the slot 66 in the block 60 and the operating member 62 may be normally. retained in its inoperative positionby a spring pressedball 67 engaging in a recess in the lower part of the operating membere y 1 The-plunger6l is guided in a hole, 68 in the body 57and a guide 69 is provided for each needle as it leaves the magazine. 7 'The needles 70 are placed in the magazine side by sidewith all their points projecting towards the side having the outward guide 69. The needles are acted upon by a pressure plate 71 which is pressed by a light spring 72 the opposite end ofwhich forms an abutment against a fixed plate 73. Thus whenever .the endneedle of the row is ejectedand theplunger "61 returns to the position shown in Figure 16 the needles will advance by an amount equal to the diameter of one needle. In the back of the body 57 is a slot 74 and theback of the plate 71 may have a projection175 engaging in the slot 74 so that it is guided thereby.

13Zto 18 and the construction shown in'these no i The body 57 .is' provided with a further The front platej58 isprovided witha slot piece 79 at its end. In

or opening 81d one side 82-of which engages V 83 to receive the end piece 79 of the slide 77 and the inner surface 84 of the .part 79 and the inner surface 85. of the part 82 are both inclined or curved as shown.

The plate 58 is slotted as shown at 86 and in the'slot is ahoo'klik'e retaining member 87 pivoted at 88 and; acted uponby a plate spring 89'. V i V r The end of the retaining member 87 is formed as'a hook 90 and this hook engages in the opening 81a in the plate 58 and is slotted as shown at 91 to allow the part 79 to move up to the side 91a of the opening 81a.

The needles are fed through the space between the parts 79 and 90 by hand one by one and after each needle has been inserted the i finger piece is pushed causing the slide 7 7 to move in an endwise direction and force the needle past the retaining hook90. When the needle has passed into the magazine the retaining hook springs back under the'infiuence of the pressure of thespring-89 and retains the needle in position.

Vhen the needle gripper '15 releases the spent needle it is desirable that this needle should be permitted to drop free of the machineand for this purpose a tube or chute 92 may be provided down which thespent nee- P dles canpass and the tube or chute 92 may deliver the spent needles into a drawer 9301' other receptacle jinthe' cabinet.

i The needles may be releasedbefore the loading position (shown in Fi ure 6) is reached and in the construction il ustrated the needles are released before this position is reached, the needle gripper being moved into its open or released position and retained in such position by the levers 30, 31 during the loading operation and the needle gripper re maining releaseduntil the tone arm has been moved back towards the turntable sufficiently for the levers 30, 31 to leave the rollers 41.

Thusthere is aperiod after the freshneedle has been fed into the needle holder during which the needle is not gripped because the needle holder has not been allowed to close-on to the needle. "During this period it is necessary to support the needle in the needle holder and forthis purpose'a moving table 94 is provided. It is necessary that this table should be operative for supporting'a needle in the needle holder from the moment when the fresh needle enters. the holder until the needle holder has gripped thelneedlebut it is also necessary that the supportingv table 94 should not impede the fall of spent needles when the tone arm is moving fr-om'the turntable to the loading position. For this reason the table 94 is movably mounted. Re-

ferring particularly to the Figure 8 the table 94 :is shown to be 'slid'ablygmounted over a hole "95in a fixed plate 96 the table being guided in grooves in the edges of a plate 97. V The plate 96 is provided with apair of tubular guides 98 in which slide the vertical members 99 of stirrup structure the lower member of which is shown at 100 and the up-fi 7 per member of which is shown at 101. The

upper member is of compound construction including upper and lower plates 101 and an intermediate plate 102 which is pivotally mounted on one of the posts 99 and is acted upon by a spring 103 mounted on the other post 99. A. pin 104 mounted in the lower plate 101 and engaging a slot 105 limits the swinging movement of the plate 102, the arrangement being such that the plate 102 can swing to uncover the slots 106 in the plates 101 when required.

Thepurpose of the plate 102; is to engage the slot 64 in the plunger operating pin 62 of the magazine and if the magazine is removed for refilling purposes and then replaced the spring plate 106 is able to spring into the slot 64 when the stirrup 99,100 and 101 has'moved into the correct position.

For sliding the plate 94 back and forth a cam plate 107 is provided attached to a pair ofblocks 108 slidably mounted on one of the members 99. The cam plate 107 is pro- Vided with an incline 109 which engages the late 94 when the cam plate rises and slides the plate94 so as to uncover sufiicient of the hole 95 to allow the'releasedneedle to drop therethrough. .When the structure orstirrup consisting of the rods 99 and-the members 100 and 101 moves. downwardly',however, the plate 94 is advanced over the hole 95 by means of a spring 110 (see Figure 7).

The stirrup consisting of the members '99, 100 and 101 is operatedto rise and fall by means of a lever 111 pivoted at 112to a suitable bracket. and having an adjustable connection 113 to alever. 114 pivoted at 115, the

-lever;11 4 'carrying'a-weight 116 at its opposite end. a v

An adjustablestop 117 is provided limiting the motion of the lever 114 under the influence of theweight 116. V i

-The lever 114 is operated by means of a lever 118 pivoted on the centre to a bracket 119,. the lever 118 having an adjustable nose piece 120one surface of which 121 is inclined. 1

The lever 118 is operated by the arm or projecting piece 51 on the tone arm 5. As the tone arm is-swung to the side of theturntable thezmember 51f engages-the part 120 and swings the lever 118jwhich operates the lever 114 the motion beingtransmitted thence to the stirrup99; 100 and 101 by the connection 113 and the lever 1'11. The-stirrup is thus raised and the plate94 withdrawn from the hole 95 as the tone arm is approaching its loading position.

tone arm reaches its'loading po- I When the the axle pins of which engage the, slots 137 sition, the member; :51 mov'es clear :of' the 1 part so thatthe levers 118 and 114 are thus released, the weight; 116 causing them to return to their normaluposition and in to. 26 the sound box",1,turntable3 andtone arm 2 and 5"togetherwith the guide 50'and :20

' doing so to lower the stirrup 99,100 and 101 a this movement causing the plate 94 to re i turn: to itsoperativeposition for. supporting I :the. fresh needle slightly in advance of the I feeding of-a fresh needle from the'magazine by the operation of the pin "62 by thelplate 106. v c. g I I When the tone'arm is returned toits position o-vertheiturntable it rides-freely over 15" the; lever 118 by engaging the incline 121 ever, moving "the lever 114.;

and swinging the lever 118 without, how- In the construction shown in Figures 21 the parts 47, 48 and 49 are constructed sub- -stantially 'as'descrifbedlwith reference to Figr ures l'to 20.. I

T f to 26the needle magazineg54'mayialso be of '25 In the construction shown in Figures21 substantially the same form as that described with referenceto Figures 13 to 18 except that the head 63 is replaced by a flat head 122 under which may be a coiled spring 123.

' I In this constructionthe magazine is detachably mountedupon a supporting arm 124 mounted so that it can swing about the same centre as the part 5 of thetone arm;

The arm 124-is acted upon by a spring 125 and is adapted to move between stops 126 andl27.

The arrangementis such that the tone arm i can be swung to'thefsideiof the. turntable i and will engage With-asuitabl'e part of the arm12'4 after which the tone armand the arm 124'wi1l'move together until the arm 124 comes into contact with'the stop 127 The-free end ofthearm 124 isprovidedf with keyhole-slots 128.;for engagement by the studs on'theunder side of the magazine and the free end of the arm isdownwardly cranked'as shown at 129 and has it "it'y 130 extending horizontally. v a

sor-like levers-133v and 134 are attached bya s v extrem- A part'129 isslottedasshown at131 and i on theunder side of the arml24 is fixed a de c magazine the latter maybe provided with-aclls pendingbracket. 132 :towhichia pair of sois- A bracket 132', h-a; ;.r, is1s1aaa as shown at 136, in order to allow the levers 133 and needle gripper.

1-34' to I centre themselves relation to i the It will be understoodfthat the needle gripper operating levers 30 and 31, shown'in samemanner.

Figure 11 are omitted fromthis construction and the levels 133 and are employed in their place and-operate in'substantially the "One end'of each lever133, 134 is slotted as shown at 137 .and rollers 138 are provided is p 'f Theserollers 138 engage the surface 139 and 140 of a cam plate 141 fixed to the structurevof the machine, the surfaces 139 and 140 including inclines 142 and 143 which cause the levers to be closed on the 1 when the 127. c c I V Furthenthe surface 140 adjacent to the incline 143 is provided with a projection 144 causing the lever 134 to make an ejecting movement in the same way that the lever 31 operates as has already been described.

Asthe arm 124 and theparts associated therewith may be ofconsiderable weight the arm may be provided with a supporting roll; "er "145 adapted to run on the fixed structure I at the side of the turntable.

For supporting the fresh needle in the open needle gripper a movable sliding table 146 is provided, this table sliding on the part 130 of the arm 124; y 4 T The table 146 isslotted asshown at 147 the j slots being engaged by posts 148 and the table beingacted upon by a spring 149 so that normally "it occupies the position shown in Figure 21. The table isfurther provided with an opening150 which is normally out of line with the needle gripper. Onthe arm 124 being moved towards the stop 127, however, the end 15 1 of the table 146 is engaged by a pivoted cam piece 152 causing the table I to slide in a manner to bring the opening 150' directly under the needle gripper so that the released needle can drop through the. opening into the tube 92provided forLlD it. The tube 92 may leadthe spent needle i into a drawer similar to the drawer93. V The 'c'ampi'ece152 is pivoted at 153 and acted upon by a tension spring 154, a stop 155 being provided'to limit the motion of the: cam piece 152 under the influence of its spring.

Having passed the cam piece 152 the table 146 automatically returns to its original position with the hole 150out of line with the? needle gripper so that it is now in a position to support the fresh needle to be inserted arm 124 is swung towards the stop from the magazine.

Foroperating the plunger pin 62,01? the lever 1 56 pivoted at 157 to themagazine itself one end of the lever 156 having a rolle r 158 andthe other end having a slot "159 which engages a pin 160 projecting laterally from the. pin 62 r A'slot 161 is provided in the r120 plunger guide to allow the pin 160 to pass up and down.

" The lever-156 is operated by engaging a I I fixed cam 162 which is mounted upon the stationary structure at the side, of the turu- 5125 table and the feeding of the needle may take place while the tone arm and the'magazine 3 arm 124are moving together, there being no feeding operation.

relative movement betweenthem l ri g the v a r 1'? .gripper 70 exerted by the spring 125 and the needle will be supported onthe table 146'until after the'gripper has been allowed to close.

For positioning thesound box in relation to the end of the arm 124 the sound box may be provided with two projecting plates 163 which come into contact with the posts 148.

In-the construction shown in Figures 27, 28 and 29, the magazine 185 carrying the supply of fresh needles is mounted upon an arm 186 which issimilar to the arm 124 in as much as it is pivoted about the same centre as that upon which the tone arm turns.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 27 28 and 29, the tone arm is in two parts 187 and 188 between which is a pivoted joint 189 which allows the sound box to be turned upwardly away from the record'when required. The joint 189, however, is provided with a stop limiting the-downward movement of the part 188. a

The sound box 190 is preferably mounted by means of the joint 191 on the end of the part 188 so that the sound box can turn about a horizontal axis at right angles to the axis of the pivot of the needle holder this movement taking place against the ac tion of a spring 192 the motion being limited by a pin and slot connection 193. This movement is' provided to allow the sound box to be rotated to bring the needle into substantially vertical position so that when the needle holder is released a needle will move freely therein by gravity. 1

This movement of the sound box isetfected automatically when the tone arm is swung 7 1y as shown at 198 and the part 1 98 is adapted "to the side of the turntable and caused to swing the arm 18.6. a On the arm. 186 is a stop 194 which is engaged by the tone arm so that further movement of the tone arm causes the arm 186 to swing onits pivot.

"On thearm 186 is moiuited a sliding plate 195, thls plate having pins196 which slide in guide slots 197 on the arm 186.

The end of the plate 195 is turned upward to engage theroller 199 mountedonithe sound box so that when the plate 195 is moved to the right (see Figure 29) the. sound box is rotated about'its own centre until the needle comes into a substantially vertical position (asseen inFigure29). 1 f

The necessary sliding movement is impart- .ed to the plate 195. byproviding the plate195 with a lug 200 having an opemng in which engages oneend of ,a lever 201 pivoted at'202 engages'a fixed ca1n205.

to the arm 186. The lever is operated by a sliding rod 203 having a roller 204 which The rod 203 is suitably. guided by guides 206and 207 and a spring 208 is provided acting on a collar'209 to keep the roller 204 in contact with the cam.

projecting end 218;

The plate 210 is provided with an ear 214 by which it may be operated while the plate. 212 is provided with an ear 215 by which it may be operated.

- The two parts 211 and213 form the means of operating the needle gripper and it will be seen that both the plates 210,212 have a float ing movement substantially A parallel to the axis of the movable member of the needle gripper both of these plates being slotted and guided on pins 216 provided on the plate 195.

The plate 195 is provided with an ear217 which is connected by a light spring 218 to a projection 219 on the plate210. The gripper 211', 213 is operated by means of a Bowden cable 220 the outer member of which engages the part 215 and the inner member of which engages the part 214.

At its opposite end the Bowden cable220. has its outer member engaging a bracket 221 and its inner member engaging a lever 222 pivoted at 223 to the arm 18.6.

The second arm of the lever 222'has a roller 224 which-engages a fixed cam225 when the arm 186 is swungso that the needle gripper is operated at the correct time. j j V Levers 228 maybe pivoted to a bracket on the sound box for engaging the needle gripping device uponopposite sides and the memthat the fresh needles are fed one by one by means of a plunger operated by a projection 226 engaging the fixed cam 227. i Insteado-i 7 operating meansfor the needle gripper which are carried thereon but have a simple sliding movement on "the arm 186 theplate1'95 carrying'the needle ripper operating means may be mounted so t at it can pivot on a horizontal pivot in 7 addition" to sliding. "By. this means the parts 198,211 and 213 may move mounting the plate 195 and the V in a curved path and may follow the needle gripper round as the sound box turns and the amount of clearance vbetween the parts 211 and'213 may be very considerably'redu'ced.

Thesliding table 229 is arranged similarly to the table 146 alreadydescribed and is operated in substantially the samemanner.

In all theconstructions described the tone arm may be provided with a handle such as t64 to facilitate its movement. I 7

Further, although in the constructions illustrated the tone arm is adapted to be moved by hand it is to be understood thati'the .tone

arm-and/ or the second arm may be moved by power such asfeleetrical poiver orthe power of the turntable motor 1f required.

" In order to provide an arrangement by it is desired to em'ploy a diflerentquality of needle one magazine is taken off and another one mounted in itsplace.

' 'What I claim then is g 4 I 1"1.;In agramophonethe combinat on of an I; arm having areproducer, a stylus'bar, and a quick release/needle gripper, the reproducer being mountedfor swinging movement to the "suchs'winging movement' of the reproducer produces in succession'a fseries of operations includmg the release of the needle gripper,

theactuation of a supporting table beneath the gripper and the feeding of a fresh needle into the ripper, and means "actu ated by the return movementpf thereproducer for 'producing'a' different sequence of operations.-

2." Ina gramophone the combination of an arm ha-ving'a reproducena stylus bar, and a quick release'needle gripper, the reproducer being-mounted for swin ing movement to produces ,in succession the release of the the side of the turntable, and means whereby such swinging movement of the reproducer needle gripper, thef'actuation of'a supportqingtable beneath the gripper and the feeding' "of freshineedle from the 'magazine into the gripperaand means actuated b'ythe' I return movement'.ofthe reprodueeri produc- *ingthe' closing ofthe gripper'on-tothe needle.

for releasing the needle grippensupporting means for-a needle magaz1ne,means for'storing up energy produced by said sw nging movement, and-means for fsubsequently 'releasing such energyfto I feed "a fresh needle 1 'cfrorn-am'agaziner e j 7 154. In a gramophon-e the combination of an arm having a 'reprodueer, a stylus'bar, and

1a, quiclrgrelease l ne'edle gripper, the reprodiice'rbeing mounted-for-sivinging movement to the side. of the turntable, automatic means for releasing the needle gripper, supporting.

means for a needle magazine, a Weight mou'nt ed for rising and falling movement, means operated by saidreprodueer for raising the ,weight When 'the swinging movementtakes placefand means for feedinga fresh needle by the energy stored upby raising the Weight;

5 Ina gramophone thecombination of an arm having a reproducer, a stylus bar, and

a quick release needle gripper, the armlcarrying the reproducer being mounted for "means being [d e of the turntable and means whereby the Weight. 1

8. .In a "gramophone the combination of an I 7 arm having a reproducer, a stylus bar, and

a quick release needle gripper, the arm carrying the reproducer being mounted for movement to the side o'fthe turntable, auto- 'matic means for releasing the needle gripper, I supporting means fora needle magazine, a which different qualities or different, diame- "ters of needle may beluseda plurality of magazines maybe provided'and each magazine having itsovvnejec'ting plungen Whe-n iveig'ht mounted for rising and falling'mov'cment, a trlpglever for ralsmg said welght by movement of 'sai-d arm andmeans for'feeding a fresh needle'into the gripper, said actuated by the energystored up by raising the Weight. r

i 6. In a'gramophone the combination ofan" arm havinga reproducer, a stylus bar, and

' a quick release needle gripper, the arm carfryingjthe reproducer being v mounted for movement to the side of the turntable, automatic means for releasing the needle gripper,

supporting'means" for a needle magazine,

'meansfor feeding a needle from amagazine into the open gripper, a support for the needle in the open gripper until the gripper closes thereon/means for storing up energy prov iducedi by said swinging movement and means for subsequently releasing such energy to operatesaidneedle support. I

' 7. In agramophone the combination of an arm havlng a reproducena stylus bar, and

a quick release needle gripper, the arm carrying the reproducer belng mounted for -movement to the side of the turntable, automatic means for releasingthe needle gripper supporting means for a needle magazine, a

lever pivotedto a stationary part of the machine,fa Weight on said lever, a pivoted trip piece on said lever positioned f'oroperation by said arm, and means for feeding a fresh needle into thegripper, said means being actuated by the energy stored'up by raising movement to the side of the turntable, automatic means for releasing the needle gripper, supportmgmeans for a needle magazine, a

lever pivoted to a stationary part of the machine, a weighton said lever, a pivoted trip piece on said lever positioned foroperation by said armand means for feeding afresh needle into'the gripper, and support forthe 9. In a gramophone the combination of an armhaving a reproducer, a stylus bar, and a quick release needle gripper, the reproducer bemgfmounted for swinging movement to magazine'forfeedingthe needles one by one "into gripper,*and means controlled by the swinging movement of the reproducer, for operatmgsaid plunger. 1 I a 10. In agramophone the combination of an arm having a reproducer, a stylus barf vthe side of the turntable, automatic means f for releasing'the needle gripper, a needle 'magazine, a plunger; associated With'said intothe gripper, said means-being. actuated i 

